Release Date: June 1, 2021 (available for preorder)
Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery
What you need to know about Nekesa?
Nekesa Afia is Canadian millennial who is doing her best. DEAD DEAD GIRLS is her debut novel. @nekesaafia
(Description provided by publisher.)
Harlem, 1926. Young black girls like Louise Lloyd are ending up dead.
Following a harrowing kidnapping ordeal when she was in her teens, Louise is doing everything she can to maintain a normal life. She’s succeeding, too. She spends her days working at Maggie’s Café and her nights at the Zodiac, Manhattan’s hottest speakeasy. Louise’s friends might say she’s running from her past and the notoriety that still stalks her, but don’t tell her that.
When a girl turns up dead in front of the café, Louise is forced to confront something she’s been trying to ignore–several local black girls have been murdered over the past few weeks. After an altercation with a local police officer gets her arrested, Louise is given an ultimatum: She can either help solve the case or let a judge make an example of her.
Louise has no choice but to take the case and soon finds herself toe-to-toe with a murderous mastermind. She’ll have to tackle her own fears and the prejudices of New York City society if she wants to catch a killer and save her own life in the process.
Denny: What’s your favorite trope to read? What’s your favorite trope to write—and does either one get some love in your new release:)?
Nekesa: I love classic romance tropes, enemies-to-lovers, fake relationship, and there’s only one bed. It’s hard to get these types of tropes into my novels about death and murder, but I’ve always been tempted to write an espionage novel that has all three.
Denny: Why did you decide to set “Dead Dead Girls” in the Prohibition era?
Nekesa: Simply because the 1920s is my favourite decade of history. It’s filled with so much art and culture and it was the birth of the Harlem Renaissance. Even with so much change, things weren’t fantastic for Black people, but I couldn’t deny myself the chance to spend hundreds of hours daydreaming about the music, clothes, and shoes!
Denny: What are you binge watching now?
Nekesa: I’m a bit eclectic when it comes to my TV taste, but I just started binging Arrow on Netflix. I also just finished watching Bridgerton, like everyone else on earth with a Netflix account.
Denny: What beverage do you recommend readers enjoy while devouring your new release!
Nekesa: Louise drinks a lot of Coke and gin, so one of those, but preferably both.
View Comments
This sounds like an awesome book and I can't wait to get my copy!
I have pre ordered the book Looking For Grace and can’t wait to read the book. Dead Dead Girl also looks interesting to read, and I will be reading them both . I am so excited about Looking For Grace I can’t wait for it to come out.
Thank you, Cathy!! I hope you enjoy the book. If you’d like release day updates go to my website http://www.pamelavarnado.com and sign up for my newsletter...The Inside Scoop.
"Looking For Grace" sounds like it'll be a great read, I've already preordered this book and can't wait to finally get my hands on the deeply emotional story of Grace!